The Crown said Guenther tied Jones-McKnight's hands and feet, taped her mouth shut and placed a plastic bag over her head and choked her to death.

CALGARY - The Crown says a Calgary man accused of killing his ex-fiancée admitted to multiple people that he strangled her.

Kristopher "Tray" Guenther has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his ex-fiancee, 20-year-old Lacey Jones-McKnight, in a basement in October of 2012.

The Crown said Wednesday in its opening arguments at the start of the trial that 30-year-old Guenther tied Jones-McKnight's hands and feet, taped her mouth shut and placed a plastic bag over her head and choked her to death.

Her body was found in a car and Guenther was later arrested after attempting to take his own life from a bridge on Country Hills Boulevard.

The Crown said the charge of first-degree murder is warranted because the victim was confined by the accused before being strangled and Guenther told multiple people, including Jones-McKnight’s mother Shelly, that he had committed the crime.

The prosecution presented forensic evidence from a police investigator including duct tape, nylon rope and other items taken from Guenther's home and vehicle, as well as fingerprints.

Shelly Jones said despite the wait, it’s given her time to prepare for trial.

“To build up my strength, to be able to get through this,” she said. “It’s also tough to watch my family and Lacey’s friends come out of that courtroom in tears and absolutely horrified about some of the details that they’re hearing.”